Wills Index

Using the Wills Index

You can search this index of over 38,000 entries to see what Archdeaconry of Berkshire wills, administrations and inventories we have for the period 1480 to 1857.

Let's explain the difference between these records.

Wills: this is the most common record in which an individual sets out their intentions as to what should happen to their possessions after death and to appoint executors.

Administrations (admons): If a person died without making a will (intestate), the court had to appoint people to administer the estate and issued letters of administration. The appointed persons would then enter an administration bond to carry out various tasks. However, they do not reveal anything about actual possessions unless an inventory is included.

Inventories: This was made as a true record of the extent and value of the deceased’s estate and often included debts as well as possessions.

It's also worth noting that sometimes, all that survives is a registered copy of a probate record, which is a hand written version in a bound volume.

How to use the wills index:

The index is listed by surname, but also provides details of place name and occupation as well the document reference of the record and what microfilm/fiche (MF) copies we have.

To use the Name Search simply enter the name as surname, first name. For example: Blackmore, Dennis.

You can also search by surname only or first name only.

For place names or occupations please use the Keyword Search.

If you would like to look at or order copies of any of the records listed, please Contact Us.

Name Search

Keyword Search

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Name Place Name Occupation Year BRO Ref MF Copy
BENWELL, RichardBuckleburyTailor1612D/A1/42/087 D/A1/15/218MF463 MF10065
BENWELL, RobertWallingfordGardener1757D/A1/180/201MF96020
BENWELL, ThomasNewburyFuller1565D/A1/39/214 D/A1/8/351MF462 MF10043C
BENWELL, WilliamBucklebury1564D/A1/39/021/1 D/A1/8/328MF461 MF10043C
BENWELL, WilliamTidmarsh1598D/A1/13/425MF10049
BENWELL, WilliamShinfieldYeoman1648D/A1/178/035MF96015
BERD, HumphreyWarfield1549D/A1/39/041MF461
BERD, HumphreyWarfield1561D/A1/7/344MF10040
BERD, JohnDonnington, Shaw Cum Donnington1610D/A1/176/032MF96012
BERD, JohnDonnington, Shaw Cum Donnington1610D/A1/168/067MF96001
BERD, RogerNewbury1601D/A1/175/170MF96011
BERD, RogerNewbury1601D/A1/13/717MF10049
BERD, WilliamWarfield1538D/A1/233/037MF96132
BERD, WilliamWarfieldHusbandman1539D/A1/2/073MF604
BERDAT, RobertCumnor1591D/A1/41/017 D/A1/12/014MF462 MF10048
BERDE, HumphreyWarfieldHusbandman1549D/A1/5/083MF10043A
BERELL, MaudeStanford In The Vale1585D/A1/175/100 D/A1/11/022MF96010 MF10047B
BERELL, RobertStanford In The ValeHusbandman1578D/A1/40/073 D/A1/10/124MF462 MF10047A
BERKESHER, JohnWinkfield1557D/A1/4/013MF604
BERKSHERE, JohnWinkfield1556D/A1/233/334MF96132
BERKSHIRE, JohnWinkfield1557D/A1/9/313MF10046
BERMAN, RichardNew Windsor, WindsorTailor1588D/A1/175/113MF96010
BERNARD, BeatriceShottesbrooke1532D/A1/1/265MF10042
BERNARD, GilesLeckhampstead, ChieveleyHusbandman1660D/A1/45/65MF465
BERNARD, JohnSpeenhamland, Speen Drugget Maker1727D/A1/180/98MF96019
BERNARD, RichardWarfieldHusbandman1633D/A1/44/054MF464
BERNARD, RichardFarnboroughYeoman1664D/A1/45/139MF465
BERNARD, RobertWargraveTurner1621D/A1/43/059MF464
BERNARD, RobertWoodhill, Letcombe RegisYeoman1709D/A1/48/158MF467
BERNARD, SimonBrayYeoman1691D/A1/37/122MF460
BERNARD, Simon SnrBrayYeoman1662D/A1/174/39MF96007
BERNARDE, JohnWarfieldYeoman1621D/A1/43/054MF464
BERNETT, AnneAbingdon1705D/A1/48/126MF467
BERREY, AnneReading St Laurence1624D/A1/43/113MF464
BERREY, AveryReadingButcher1626D/A1/43/147MF464
BERREY, WilliamWoolhamptonButcher1578D/A1/10/142MF10047A
BERRIE, AliceWoolhampton1582D/A1/10/334MF10047A
BERRIE, AveryReading St LaurenceButcher1589D/A1/40/169 D/A1/11/303MF462 MF10047B
BERRIE, JohnWoolhamptonYeoman1579D/A1/40/085 D/A1/10/188MF462 MF10047A
BERRIMAN, RobertSpeenWheeler1755D/A1/50/68MF469
BERRIMAN, RobertSpeen1822D/A1/226/62MF96123
BERRIMAN, RogerShaw Cum DonningtonWheelwright1778D/A1/50/169MF469
BERRIS, JohnReading St MaryHorse Dealer1807D/A1/145/33MF557
BERRY, BenjaminBucklebury1787D/A1/180/249MF96020
BERRY, ElizabethBucklebury1782D/A1/50/190MF469
BERRY, FrancisKintburyYeoman1737D/A1/180/145MF96020
BERRY, JamesBuckleburyYeoman1745D/A1/50/4MF469
BERRY, JamesBrimptonYeoman1830D/A1/226/80MF96123
BERRY, JaneBucklebury1709D/A1/48/154MF467
BERRY, JohnLambournCarpenter1623D/A1/43/085MF464
BERRY, JohnNew Windsor, WindsorBarber Surgeon1707D/A1/179/174MF96018
BERRY, JohnBuckleburyYeoman1739D/A1/180/150MF96020
BERRY, RichardBuckleburyYeoman1698D/A1/48/46MF467
BERRY, SarahReading St Giles1785D/A1/180/244MF96020
BERRY, WilliamWoolhampton1578D/A1/40/081MF462
BERRY, WilliamBuckleburyHusbandman1727D/A1/49/112MF468
BERSTOE, HughReading1575D/A1/175/089MF96010
BERTHELEMEW, ThomasHampsteadHusbandman1548D/A1/39/036MF461
BERTTELYT, JohnLambourn1530D/A1/39/001MF461
BERY, ChristianShrivenham1583D/A1/40/114 D/A1/10/398MF462 MF10047A
BERY, JohnShinfield1784D/A1/50/203MF469
BERYNGTON, WilliamReading St Laurence1553D/A1/7/001 D/A1/39/062MF10040 MF461
BESHOP, JohnEasthampstead1557D/A1/39/092 D/A1/7/283MF461 MF10040
BESLEY, ElizabethAshbury1559D/A1/39/110 D/A1/8/031MF461 MF10043C
BESLEY, FrancisEast HendredWheelwright1807D/A1/145/35MF557
BESLEY, GeorgeEast HendredWheelwright1847D/A1/147/4MF558
BESLEY, Henry JnrAshbury1635D/A1/177/046MF96013
BESLEY, JohnEast HendredYeoman1780D/A1/50/179MF469
BESLEY, WilliamEast HendredMaltster1835D/A1/226/87MF96123
BESLY, HenryAshburyYeoman1635D/A1/44/061MF464
BESLY, NicholasBucklandHusbandman1700D/A1/48/72MF467
BESLY, RogerBucklandHusbandman1706D/A1/48/135MF467
BESLYE, JohnAshburyHusbandman1556D/A1/2/100MF604
BESLYE, JohnAshburyHusbandman1558D/A1/233/051MF96132
BESSILL, LuceNorth Hinksey1661D/A1/178/61MF96015
BESSLY, GeorgeBurgage, Hinton WaldristHusbandman1691D/A1/47/158MF467
BEST , William SnrCumnorYeoman1720D/A1/49/47MF468
BEST, JohnWallingford St LeonardFreemason1587D/A1/40/152 D/A1/11/241MF462 MF10047B
BEST, MatthewCompton1546D/A1/5/028 D/A1/39/020MF10043A MF461
BEST, SamuelKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1701D/A1/48/90MF467
BEST, ThomasReading St Mary1532D/A1/1/188MF10042
BESTBRIDGE , James SnrReadingTwine Spinner1805D/A1/145/17MF557
BESTLEY, ClementHinton WaldristHusbandman1628D/A1/177/009MF96013
BESTLY, AnneBurgage, Hinton Waldrist1680D/A1/47/45MF466
BESTLY, JohnBurgage, Hinton WaldristYeoman1661D/A1/45/86MF465
BESTLY, RichardHinton WaldristYeoman1705D/A1/48/123MF467
BET, JohnBaulking, Uffington1558D/A1/39/097MF461
BET, JohnUffington1558D/A1/167/101MF96000
BETFORD , WilliamBaulking, Uffington1544D/A1/2/072MF604
BETFORD, ElizabethBaulking, Uffington1555D/A1/39/074MF461
BETFORD, RichardLambournShepherd1606D/A1/41/198 D/A1/14/145MF463 MF10064
BETFORD, ThomasStanford In The Vale1591D/A1/175/121 D/A1/175/132/2MF96010 MF96010
BETFORDE, WilliamUffington1546D/A1/2/058MF603
BETFORDE, WilliamLambournYeoman1600D/A1/41/140 D/A1/13/545MF463 MF10049
BETHAM, JohnArdingtonVicar1581D/A1/40/102 D/A1/10/317MF462 MF10047A
BETT, WilliamBuscotYeoman1607D/A1/176/008MF96012
BETT, WilliamBuscot1607D/A1/168/019MF96001
BETTEREDGE, RobertSparsholt1552D/A1/5/165MF10043A
BETTRIDGE, JohnKingston Lisle, SparsholtHusbandman1619D/A1/43/037MF464
BETTRIDGE, John SnrKingston Lisle, SparsholtHusbandman1614D/A1/42/105 D/A1/15/407MF463 MF10065